Loudonville stores see steady stream of customers

Results were very positive for Loudonville businesses deciding to take on big-box stores with their own versions of Black Friday promotions.

“I’ve been slammed,” Angie Heimberger of Four Seasons Flowers and Gifts said about 10:15 Friday. “We offered 25 percent off all items in the store between 7 and 9 a.m., and we had a line when I got here. People walked out with all sorts of items, ranging from pre-lighted and pre-decorated Christmas trees to ornaments, candles, Willo furniture and throw rugs. And everybody seemed very happy.”

Folks across the street at Buzzard’s Family Shoe Store were too busy dealing with customers to talk about the success of their sale. At 10:20 a.m., five salespeople were dealing with clusters of one to four customers each, all at the same time.

When store co-owner Dave Buzzard was asked how his promotion was going, he just rolled his eyes and smiled.

Next door, Judy Strong at Avon Beauty Center sat back on the stool behind her register and noted “this is the first break I have had since we opened at 7 a.m. Folks are buying just about everything we have on sale, with stocking-stuffer items, gifts sets and jewelry the most popular items.”

It was a little more subdued at Creative Outlet, Loudonville’s Native American craft, clothing and jewelry store, where owner Vikki Balsamo said: “Folks are trickling in, but they will be in all day. Black Friday, and indeed the entire Thanksgiving weekend has always been very good for us.”

Chris Tuttle was bouncing from corner to corner in his vast Amish Oak Furniture Co. store. “We are busy, very busy,” he said. “We offer a weekend-long sale, and traditionally, Thanksgiving weekend, has always been a very good sales week for us.”

Brett Weekley, salesperson at Raby Hardware, agreed. “We are busier than normal today. Folks are happy and seem to be enjoying shopping with us.”

Jack Briscoe at Rhoads Jeweler summed up the experiences of most of the Loudonville businesses offering Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend promotions. “We are busy, and doing very well. For whatever reason, people seem to really like to shop on the Thanksgiving weekend, today and tomorrow.”

Of course, decent weather encouraged shoppers to visit Loudonville. Predicted rain seemed to be pretty much over by 8 a.m., and a brisk crowd remained in the downtown shopping area all day long.

Loudonville is gearing up for more holiday shopping adventures Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2, when businesses, under the umbrella of Loudonville-Mohican Chamber of Commerce, conduct the annual Holiday Shop Hop. A highlight of the Holiday Shop Hop activities is the annual Christmas Parade, Saturday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. The Chamber and supporting businesses are also offering free carriage rides through the village from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, with pickup in front of the Chamber office at 131 W. Main St.